Legislator Files Bill To Allow Paid Maternity Leave In Arkansas

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Legislator Files Bill To Allow Paid Maternity Leave In Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) – A legislator from Little Rock has filed a bill that, if passed, would allow paid maternity leave in Arkansas for state employees.

Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, filed the bill, also known as HB 1426, on Monday (Feb. 23) at 11:29 a.m., according to legislative records.

Under HB 1426, “paid maternity leave” is defined as “leave with pay for an employee for the birth of the employee’s child.”

The maternity leave would only be for workers appointed or employed in a position of state service for more than one year.

Workers would have to apply in writing for it, and any state employee granted paid maternity leave shall be paid his or her salary in the amount of up to $500 each week for six consecutive weeks of maternity leave, the bill states.

If the bill passes, employees granted paid maternity leave would use those days off before the following:

Unpaid maternity leave

Earned sick leave

Earned annual leave

Earned compensatory leave

Catastrophic leave

Leave without pay

Employees eligible for paid maternity leave may choose not to use it and instead may use other eligible time off.

“The paid maternity leave shall be used concurrently with any unpaid maternity leave that is granted under federal or state law,” the bill states.

arnold fudpucker

JAY

why just for state workers what makes those moms any different than anyone else. we need someone to make some real laws for the working people state workers already have nice benefits. how bout pass a law that police just can’t arrest someone just because their accused of something how about that jack.

arnold fudpucker

Another stooge demoncrat trying to spend everyone else’s money while he grabs the glory and the headlines. You can bet he wouldn’t be so generous with his own money. Did you notice the part about… “leave with pay for an employee for the birth of the employee’s child.” Are we going to perform DNA test to determine paternity? Notice nothing is said about married couples. This by itself opens up a couple of cans of worms.